Farraway

This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a locational name from Farway in Devonshire, recorded as "Farewei" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and as "Fareweye" in the 1242 Book of Fees. The component elements of the placename are the Olde English pre 7th Century "faer" a passage, with "weg" a path or road. During the Middle Ages when migration for the purpose of job-seeking was becoming more common, people often took their former village name as a means of identification, thus resulting in a wide dispersal of the name. The surname is also found as Faraway and Farroway. On August 4th 1685, Jonathan, son of Paul and Jane Farraway, was christened at Tremaine, Cornwall, and Honer, daughter of Thomas Farrway, was christened on December 1st 1687 at Cornwood, Devon. The Coat of Arms most associated with the family is black, with an ermine chevron between three silver escallops. The chevron signifies Protection, and has often been granted in arms as a reward to one who has achieved some notable enterprise. The escallop symbolized Venture to foreign lands and inviolable Fidelity on a Coat of Arms. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Nathaniell Farraway, which was dated September 21st 1627, witness at christening at the church at Weybridge, Surrey, during the reign of King Charles 1st, "The Martyr", 1625-1649. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.